Compressed-air water-elevator.



N0. S91E71. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

J. R. BICKETTS.

COMPRESSED AIR WATER ELEVATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 3, 1961.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES; *[NVENTOR /%yf Z Q By mmmmza m: scams PETERS co. FNDTO-LITNQ, vmsumarofi. u. c.

Attorney JAMES R. RIOKETTS, OF KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE \V. IVILSON, OF KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

COM PRESSED-AIR WATER-ELEVATOR.

$PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,171, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed December 3, 1901. Serial No. 84,561. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. RIOKETTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at King fisher, in the county of Kingfisher, Territory of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressed-Air Tater-Elevators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

I This invention relates to a compressed-air water-elevator, and particularly to an escape mechanism for permitting the escape of compressed air from the vessel after the raising of liquid thereby.

.The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of escape mechanism adapted to be automatically operated by the entrance and discharge of water from the vessel and to permit a preliminary escape of air therefrom before the opening of the main escape-valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of escapevalve carried by the stem of an inlet-valve 2 5 and adapted to effect an air-tight closure under tension upon its seat in the closing action of the inlet-valve.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof particularly defined by the appending'claims.

The drawing represents a vertical section through a vessel containing the operative parts of this invention.

In the drawing the letter A designates a vessel or tank of any suitable construction and configuration and adapted to be submerged in the liquid to be raised and supported therein above the bottom of the liqo uid. This vessel is provided with a bottom plate A, having an inlet-aperture A and witha top plate A formed to receive the several connecting-pipes hereinafter described. This top plate is also provided with a valvechamber A, connected thereto by a neck A, which chamber is formed at its upper end with a vent-pipe A, extending above the body of the liquid in which the vessel is submerged. The normal level of this liquid is indicated by a dotted line a a in the drawing and the filling-level within the vessel by the dotted line b b. Cooperating with the inlet-opening A a valve Bis provided and has averticallydisposed stem B extending upward through the vessel and neck A into the valve-case A 5 5 where it is provided with an escape-valve 13*, adapted to seat upon the upper end of the neck A This valve is slidably mounted upon the stem and normally held in contact with a nut B thereon by means of a tensionspring B", extending between the upper face of the valve, and an adjusting-nut B, by means of which the tension of the spring may be regulated. The valve-rod B is guided by means of a stop-arm A at the lower portion of the vessel, and a spider-frame A disposed within the neck. The relative positions of the escape and inlet valves is such that the escape-valve seats before the inlet-valve completely closes, and the continued movement of the latter places the spring above the escape-valve under tension to firmly secure an air-tight seating of the escape-valve. Oommunicatin g with the valve-casing B isa ventpipe B extending into the upper portion of the vessel A and there provided with a stopcock B which is .provided with a lever B For the purpose of operating this lever in the rising and falling action of the water in the vessel a rod B is connected therewith and provided with a fioat B which in itslowered posit-ion rests upon the guide-lug B.

For the purpose of introducing air under pressure in the vessel A a conducting-pipe O is provided and connected at its upper end 8: C with any suitable source of supply, such as an air-pump, while at the lower end thereof a stop-cock O is attached and provided with an operating-lever 0 connected by a link 0 and adjustable clamps O to the stem B. By 0 this means the connection of the air-valve with the stem may be adjusted to determine the proper time for opening the same.

For the purpose of conveying the water or liquid from the vessel a discharge-pipe D is 5 provided and extends to the lower portion of the vessel, Where an automatically-acting valve, such as a check-valve D, is located to permit the entrance of water into the pipe and preventing the discharge therefrom at roo any time. The upper portion D of this pipe is connected with any suitable discharge means as may be found desirable.

In the operation of the invention with the parts in the position shown in the drawing the air-inlet valve is closed, while the escapevalve and vent-pipe are open, thus permitting the escape of the air-pressure within the vessel and the free inlet of water thereto. As the water-level in the vessel rises the float B is carried upward, thus closing the ventpipe, and the water continues to rise until the pressure is equalized and approximately the level I) b is reached. The buoyant force of the liquid surrounding the vessel when empty'raises the valve B, which valve closes by gravity after the vessel has become filled, and in its closing action operates the airinlet valve 0 to permit the entrance of compressed air, the pressure of which retains the valve B in a closed position. It will be seen that the inward pressure is the same in all directions within the vessel and the escape-valve being of less area than the inletvalve and outside of the vessel. Therefore if these valves be connected by the stem Bthe increase of the inward pressure within the vessel will retain them in a closed position so long as it is kept up. When all the liquid has been forced upward through the discharge D, the fioat again descends to the fullline position, thus opening the vent-pipe and lowering the pressure within the vessel, so as to permit the inlet and escape valves to open and admit moreliquid, as just described. It will be noted that when the vessel is coinpletely filled the vent-cock B is closed and the further escape of air occurs through the escape-valve. As before described, this escape-valve reaches its seat slightly before the inlet-valve, and the remaining motion of the latter places the escape-valve under tension to hold it firmly in air-tight contact with its seat. The shifted position of the valvesjust described is shown by dotted lines in the drawing.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forthits merits, whatIclaim, and desire to seeuro by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe connected therewith, a liquid-discharge extending from the lower portion of the vessel, an escape-pipe extending from the upper portion of the vessel, an inlet-valve having a stem extending upwardly therefrom, and an escape-valve movable simultaneously with said inlet-valve and adapted to reciprocate upon said stem to close said escape-pipe before the seating of the inlet-valve substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a water vessel, of

an air-pipe connected therewith, a liquid-discharge extending from the lower portion of said vessel,an escape-pipe extending from the upper portion of said vessel, an inlet-valve having a stem extending upwardly therefrom, an escape-valve movably mounted upon said stem, a vent-pipe communicating with said escape-pipe above the escape-valve, and means for automatically opening and closing said vent-pipe; substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe connected therewith, a liquid-discharge extending from the lower portion of said vessel, an escape-pipe extending from the upper portion of said vessel, an inlet-valve having a stem extending upwardly therefrom, an escape-valve movably mounted upon said stem, 2.- vent-pipe communicating with said escape-pipe above the escape-valve,means for automatically opening and closing said ventpipe, an inlet-cook for said air-pipe, and a connection between said cock and valve-stem for automatically operating the former; substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a liquid-discharge extending from the lower portion thereof, an air-escape valve in the upper portion, an inlet-valve adapted to automatically operate said escape-valve, and a vent adapted to permit the escape of air from the vessel before the opening of the inlet and. escape valves; substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top of said vessel and provided with a valve-chamber therein, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, and an escape-valve carried by said stem and adapt ed to seat before the seating of the inlet-valve; substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top of said vessel and provided with a valve-chamber therein, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, an escapevalve carried by said stem and adapted to seat before the seating of the inlet-valve, a stop-nut on said stem to limit the downward movement of said escape-valve, and an adjustable spring for retaining said escape-valve in yielding contact'with said nut; substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top ofsaid vessel and provided with a valve-chamber therein, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, an' escapevalve carried by said stem and adapted to seat before the seating of the inlet-valve, a stop-nut on said stem to limit the downward movement of said escape-valve, an adjustable spring for retaining said escape valve in yielding contact with said nut; a stop-cock upon said air-pipe, and an operating-rod for said cock adj ustably connected to said valvestem; substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top of said vessel and provided with a valve-chamber thereon, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, an escapevalve carried by said stem and adapted to seat before the seating on theinlet-valve, a stop-nut on said stem to limit the downward movement of said escape-valve, an adjustable spring for retaining said escape valve -in yielding contact with said nut, a vent-cock upon said air-pipe, an operating-rod for said cock adj ustably connected to said valve-stem, a vent-pipe extending from said valve-casin g into said vessel and provided with a stopcock thereon, and a float for closing said ventcock; substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top of said vessel and provided with a valve-chamber thereon, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, an escapevalve carried by said stem and adapted to seat before the seating of the inlet-valve, a stop-nut on said stem to limit the downward movement of said escape-valve, an adjustable spring for retaining said escape-valve in yielding contact with said nut, a stop-cock upon said air-pipe, an operating-rod for said cock adj ustably connected to said valve-stem, a vent-pipe extending from said valve-casing into said vessel and provided with a vent-cock thereon, a float for closing said vent-cock, and a connecting-neck between said vessel and valve-case having its upper end forming a valve-seat for the escape-valve; substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a water vessel, of an air-pipe communicating therewith, a discharge-pipe extending from the lower portion thereof, an escape-pipe communicating with the top of said vessel and provided with a valve-chamber therein, an inlet-valve at the lower portion of said vessel, a valve-stem extending upward from said valve, an escapevalve carried by said stem and adapted to seat before the seating of the inlet-valve, a stop-nut on said stem to limit the downward movement of said escape-valve, an adjustable spring for retaining said escape-valve in yielding contact with said nut, a stop-cock upon said air-pipe, an operating-rod for said cock adj ustably connected to said valve-stem, a vent-pipe extending from said valve-casing into said vessel and provided with a ventcock thereon, a float for closing said ventcock, a connecting-neck between said vessel and valve-case having its upper end forming a valve-seat for the escape-valve, a suitable guide within said neck for said valve-stem, a stop and guide within the vessel for the lower end of said valve-stem, and an automatically-operated valve for preventing the return ofvwater from said discharge-pipe; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. RICKETTS;

Witnesses:

E. H. SHUMATE, R. F. GIBSON. 

